Method and mechanis for delivering and stacking sheets



M. A. DROITCOUR April 19, 1927;

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING AND STACKING SHEETS ATTOH Y 1927. April 19 M.- A. DRol'rcouR METHOD Aun ue'cxumsm FOR DELIVERING AND sTAcxING sass 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8. 1924 N2 mm WQ NN i l lNVE/vo 72d. mwmw A TTUH EY April 19 1927.4

M. A. DROITCOUR METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING AND STACKNG SHEETS Filed April s. 1924 4 sheets-sheet s April 19 1927' M, A. DRorrcouR METHOD :AND MECHNISM FOR DELIVERING AND STACKING ySHEIEITS med April a, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 4.

4TTO EY Patented Apr., lll,

UNITED STATES man?.

PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL A. DBCITCOUB, F PROVIDENCE, RODE ISLAND.

i un'rnon Nn uacnamsuron DnLIvnnINe AND s'rAcxINe sanare.

. Appiioamaniea apra s,

The invention relates -to a novel method and mechanism for" delivering and stacking sheets coming from a printing press or other mechanisms for operating thereon.'

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in art will be obvious herefrom, or may be earned by practice with the invention, the

vlherein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to .explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings i Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of'a mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 Fig. 1; y p

Fig. 3 is anY enlarged,lfragmentary eleva.- tion looking. at Fig. 2 fromfthe'ibottom of the figure; f

Fig. Lbis a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail section, aken on hne 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan, corresponding to Fig. 2 but with the feed board removed.

The invention as herewith illustrated is is a top plan corresponding to shown embodied with 'a printing press of` the bed and cylinder type, -and as delivering the sheets from the impression cylinder and stacking them. It will be understood, however, l that the invention is applicable in` other constructions and in other relations for delivering and stacking sheets.

Referring now in detail to this embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the frame 1 (Fig. 1) of the printing presssupports the bearings 2 of the impression cylinder 3, these parts being shown largely in a lconventional manner. The cylinder 3 is driven by a train of' gears 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the shaft 8. The sheets are fed to the cyl- 1924. Serial No. 704,963.

inder 3 from afeed-board 9 and are printed k* upon by a flat bed not shown.

Referring now to the delivery mechanism, it is preferably of the hinged type, although the invention in its main features is applicable equally to other ty es of delivery mechanism; The frame of t e main body of the .delivery table (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) comprises a table proper 19 in one or more longitudinalparts, and side rods 20 and 21, extending longitudinally of the press, the side frames of which are shown at 22 and 23. .It will be understood that the term table as broadly used comprises an meansv for supporting a sheetwhile it is being progressed.

Cross rods 24 and 25 extend between,

and are connected to, the longitudinal rods 20 and Y21, and constitute therewith the main frame.

In the embodied form of hinged mounting the rear ends of thefrods 20 and 21 are fixed, respectively, in hollow lugs 28 and 29, which lugs are rotatably supported in frame pieces 30 and 31, mounted .upon the press frame just above the bearings for the impression cylinder. The rotatable mounting of the lugs 28 and 29 in the frame ermit the hinged raising and lowering of t e delivery table.

Means are provided by the invention for positively progressing the delivered sheets after they have 'passed to the delivery table from the impression cylinder, and as embodied, this means comprises traveling suci tion devices engaging with the underside of the sheet, that is, the non-printed side thereof, and the freshly printed side is kept. free from any harmful contact whatsoever. As embodiedl (Figs. 3 and 6), a shaft .34 passes loosely thro gh the hollow lugs28 and 29, and is journaled in the framex-at. either side thereof.

Fixed on shaft 34 is a roller 35, to rotate therewith, and stripping and supporting iin.- gers 36 carry the lead edge of t-he sheet from the impression cylinder 3 on to the delivery table. Portions of the roller are foi-med to constitute driving rollers for suction and forwarding belts 39 Vand 40. Shaft 34 is driven in any suitable manner. as by a pinloo ion l41 on one end of the shaft, meshing shafts 50 mounted in blocks 51.

. 51 has a bar 52 extending laterally therefrom, each bar having therein a slot 53. bolt 54 passes through the slot 53 and is screwed into a block 55 carried on the tying rod 25 of the frame.

The suction-effecting ymeans (Figs, 2, 4 :1nd 5) as embodied, comprises a series of perforations G0 in the respective belts 39 and l0, these perfnrations being disposed along the belts and preferably spaced relatively closely together. Beneath each belt, in close friction contact therewith, and extending preferably the entire lengtlrthereof, that is, from roller to roller is an air-chamber 02 for belt 39, and a like chamber 63 for belt 40. In the upper fiat face of each air chamber, that is, the face upon which the belt slides in close friction contact, there is formed a longitudinaily-extending recess (il and 65, respectively.

At relatively widely-spaced intervals, an ainsuction opening 6G communicates from the interior of the suction chamber G2 in to the groove 64 in one case, and from airchainber G3 into groove 65 in the other case. Suitable means for exhausting the air to effect suction through the forwardingbelts are provided, such as a fan or other suitable device, and an air pipe 69, having communi cation with the bottom part of the suction chambers 62 and 63, through apertures 70, communicates with said air suction means.

It will thus be seen that assoon as the lead end of the sheet is delivered from the impression cylinder, it is subjectedto very gentle but positive holding suction at a plurality of points transversely, and is immediately positively propelled forward at the surface speed of the impression cylinder, the

` gentle suction holding means acting pref- Cil fil

erably at a plurality of relatively closely located points along the sheet throughout the entire length thereof as it progresses along the delivery table.- It will be understood that while two cooperating belts are shown, side by side, that a larger number may be employed as found desirable or suitable, and the belts may also be adjustable or positionable transversely of the delivery table.

Means are provided for delivering the sheet with a downward direction, and preferably deflection of the forward end of the delivery table, and also with a transverse and outwardly and upwardly curving or dishing of the sheet. Due to the abovedescribed curvature, the sheet will feed lout Maanen symmetrical] and rigidly for its entire length, and ue also to the downward deflection, there will be no rolling or folding of the forward end of the sheet, and it will settle symmetrically and uniformly on the stack of delivered sheets. The invention provides also for acting upon the sheets by the suction progressing means during this deflection and transverse curving of the feed in delivering. This latter action also contributes to the symmetrical and exactly uniform delivery of the sheets onto the stack.

As embodied (Figs. 2, 3 and 6), the front end of the delivery table is downwardly inclined as already described, and is longitudinally variably positionable relatively to the main delivery table, to vary the length of this downwardly inclined portion relatively to the main part of the delivery table, and thereby positioning the forward end of the delivery relatively to the stacli: of delivered sheets. As embodied, this inclined, forward portion comprises longitudinally-extending side rods 84.4 and 85, having at fthe rear end thereof a hollow, transversely-extending tie rod 86. The ends of the rods 84 and 8G are fixedly mounted in a block 88, which is mounted upon rod 20 of the main delivery table to slide longitudinally thereof. At the opposite side of the machine, rods 85 and 86 are fixedly mounted in a block 90, which is likewise mounted on side rod 21. of the main frame to slide longitudinally thereof.

Near its forward end, the inclined portion of the feeding table (Figs. 2 and 6) has a cross rod 92, fixed to lugs 93and 94, respectively, which lugs are slidable, respectively, upon the side rods 2O and 21 of the main delivery table. The side rods 84 and 85 of the inclined forward part of the delivery table are slidably mounted in apertures in the lugs 93 and 94.

The positioning means for the inclined table (Figs. 2, 3 and G) comprises straight racks 97 and 98, formedon the underside of the respective side rods 20 and 21 of the main frame. Meshin with these straight gear racks, respective y, are pinions 99 and 100, fixed on a transversely-extending shaft 101, which shaft is journaled. within the hollow rod 86 (which is the end rod of the inclined delivery table). At one end the shaft 101 is provided with a hand-wheel 102. By rotating the hand-wheel 102, blocks 88 and 90 slide along the side rods 20 and 21 of the main delivery table, and the side rods 84 and 85 of the inclined delivery table slide with thelugs 93 and 94. The inclined table is thereby either lengtheiied or shortened relativel to the main delivery table, and the forwar end of the delivery means is likewise positioned as desired relatively to the stack -of sheets on the stacking mechanism, this latter. positioning or adjustment depending on thesize of the sheets being delivered and stacked.

In the preferred form of the invention, the inclined delivery table is likewise provided with the suction sheet-progressin devices (Figs. 2 and 6), and in the embodie form these are the same or similar to those previously described. As embodied, two' belts 120 and 121,'having referably a relatively large number of c osely spaced togethei` suction perforations 122 or 123, respectively, run over pulleys 124 and 125., formed in or mounted on4 a roller 126.` Rollei' 126 is fixed to a shaft 127 which is` journaledin bearings 128 and 129 carried on the forward ends of side rods 84 and 85 of the inclined delivery table. l

The belts 120 and 121v at their rearward ends run, respectively, over idle pulleys 133 and 134 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6),/ which pulleys are indirectly mounted upon rod 86, and

are adjustable to take up slack in the belts.; For this` purpose each of the pulleys 1s mounted, respectively, on a stub shaft 136,

kfixed in a block 137, havingnonthe bottom -a laterally-extending bar" 138, having an aperture 139 therein. A boltl140 projects` through this aperture, and is screwreaded into a block 141, carried on shaft 86. The airXchambers and other suction devices co-v operating with belts 120 and 121 are the saine as those for belts 39 and 40, and have the same reference numerals applied thereto primed. K* c The sets of suction conveying belts on the main delivery table and the inclined delivery table, overlap at their` adjacent ends so that each sheet is continuously and uni-v formly held by the light suction from the moment its lead end enters the rear of the delivery mechanism until its tail end is delivered from the forward end thereof.

. This arrangement will be clearly understood from the preceding description and from in-i spection of Figs. 2, 4 and 6. f W Driving means for the suction belts are provided, adapted for the changes in relative position of the main and lncliued delivery tables,l As embodied, a sprocket wheel (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) is fixed on shaft34, and a sprocket chain 151 runs thereover and also about a sprocket wheel 152. mounted on a stub shaft 153, which is fixed to and projects from a block 154, fixed on the rod 20. A guiding sprocket wheel 155 is carried on a stub shaft 156, likewise 'fixed on rod 20. This sprocket wheel 155 is positioned so ,that there will be no mechanical interference between the two driving'chains due to changes in position of the inclined deliverytable.

For driving the belts on the inclined delivery a sprocket wheel 160 is mounted o/ a stub shaft 161. which shaft is supporte in the block `88 of the inclined delivery table,

and is slidable on the main delivery7 table.

A sprocket wheel 164 is fixed to. rotate with the sprocket wheel 160, and a sprocket chain 165 runs thereover and overa sprocket wheel 166, fixed on shaft 127, already described. It will be seen that during the relative move-- ment of the two parts of the delivery mechanism, sprocket wheel will roll on sprocket chain 151, while remaining Ain driving meshltherewith, the drive thus accommodatino` itself /to all posit-ions of the delivery mec anism. y

As previously indicated, means are provided for transversely curving the sheet to maintain it' 's mmetrical and sufficiently rigid duringl de ivery. The curving is from the central part of the sheet outwardly, and preferably also upwardly. Of course, the sbe'et could be bent otherwise than inthe general form of a curve, but this would be an equivalent and usually would prove lessefficient. stood as including such other forms as give the same effect. This means, as embodied (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) comprises aA pluralit of fingers 175, spaced apart transversely and extending longitudinally of the front part of the delivery (in this embodiment being the inclined part thereof). These fingers are, mounted "upon, the rodv92, friction twht or preferably, with clamping screws 1276,

whereby the various fingers may be disposed i.

The term curving will be underyou at variousI an ular positions with res ect to I the general p ane of delivery spect to each other Thus the central ones may be in the plane of the deliver table, and vprogressing outwardly towar each side, the respective fin-f gers may be progressively inclined upwardly toa greater extent, thereby imparting any desired degree of transverse upward and outward curvature tothe sheet. 'It will .be noted that the suction belts 124 and `125 extend between the lingers 175, so that the action of the curving means and of the positive forward feed upon the sheet is concurrent. Means are also provided for maintaining the delivery bed continuousA in all relative positions of the front part, and as embodied, a series of fingers 178, spaced apart transversely, and longitudinally disposed, have a mounting on rod 92, which may be offset with the mounting of the fingers l17 5. The fingers 178 lie in corresponding'recesses 179 in the main deliverytable, and slide longitudinally in their recesses as the forward end of vtheltable is moved to 'and-fro, and maintain the table and with 're- `continuous even at `the farthest forward exanism, certainfeatures thereof may be of f any suitableA or known form, this mechanism being ofthetype wherein the sheets are deliveredgto, and alined upon, the top of the channelway in the frame 192.

sizes.

' tively, on the shafts 188 and 189. The rotation of these shafts determines the vertical position of the table. The part 19() of the table is supported on blocks 195 and 196, resting upon the frame 192. The hinged forward portion of the table is supported upon a block 197, resting in an inclined The blocks 197 are of different sizes and are interchangeable, so as to vary the degree of inclination of the part 191 of the stack-supporting table. Guides 198, preferably of a usual type, are provided at the front of the stack, and may also be provided at the sides,

if desired,

Suitable jogging or alining means acting upon the sheets as they are delivered to the stack are provided, and as embodied, there is one such device at either side of the stack of sheets, and one such device at the rear,

the sheets being thereby alined against the guides 198 at the front of the stack.

As ,j embodied, these mechanisms are mounted clear of the stack, the side jogger supporting structures overhanging the stack, and all of the devices being readily adjust-` able or positionable for sheets of different The forwardly and downwardly inclined front end of the stacking table prevents any twisting or disturbance of the sheets as the joggers. come away therefrom.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the precise forms and mechanism herein shown and described, but the method may be carried out in various ways and changes may be made in the mechanism withouty departing from the principles `of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

I do not herein show or describe the sheet jogging means in detail; as this will form the subject matter of a separate application.

. lVhat I claim is 1. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a perforate belt, and suction means having an open channel extending beneath the belt, the belt running in friction contact with the suction means thereby closing the top of the channel. 2. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a perforate neem@ t belt, suction means having an open channel extending beneath the belt, the belt running in friction contact with the suction means thereby closing the top of the channel, an air chamber beneath the channel communicating therewith and means for exhausting the air therefrom.

3. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a plurality of belts engaging the underside of a sheet, and arranged longitudinally of the table and with their adjacent ends overlapping and suction means acting on the sheet at each belt and with their ends likewise overlapping.

4. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a plurality of perforate belts engaging the underside of a sheet, and arranged along the table with their ends overlapping, and an air chamber beneath each belt with their ends likewise overlapping.

5. A sheet delivery mechanism including 1n combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclined downwardly and forwa'rdly relatively thereto, and suction means on each table adapted to engage a sheet and continuously progress it over said tables.

6. A sheetl delivery mechanism including in combination a mam delivery table, and a front delivery table inclined relatively thereto and adjustable relatively thereto, and sheet progre;sing means on both tables engaging a sheet underneath, said progressing means overlapping to thereby act continuously on the sheet.

7. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclined relatively thereto and adjustable relatively thereto, and belts on both tables engaging a sheet underneath, the

belts overlapping to thereby act continuously on the Sheet.

8. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclined relatively thereto and adjustable relatively' thereto, and belts on both tables engaging a sheet underneath, and

suction means acting on the sheet at the belts,

the belts overlapping to thereby act continuously on the sheet.

9..A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclined relatively thereto, and belts on both tables engaging a sheet underneath, and suction means acting on the sheet at the belts, the belts and suction means overlapping to thereby act continuously on the sheet. A

10. A sheet delivery mechanism including `in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclinedrelatively thereto, and variably longitudinally po:itionable relatively to the main table.

11. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, afront delivery table inclined downwardl and forwardly relatively thereto, and variably longitudinally posltionable relatively to the main table. i f/ 1 in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclined' downwardly and for- ,wardly relatively thereto, and .means engag- ,Y

ing4 a sheet continuously to progress it over both tables, andvariabl longitudinally positionable relatively to t e main table.

13. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a maindelivery table, a front delivery table inclined relatively thereto, sheet progrecsing means on both ables engaging'a sheet underneath, said progressing means overlapping to thereby act continuusly on the sheet, and variably longitudinally positionable relatively to the main table.

14. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table/ inclined relatively thereto, belts on both tables engaging a sheet'underj neath, the belts overlappingv to thereby act Y main table.

continuously on the sheet, and variably longitudinally positionable relatively to the main table.

15. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a main delivery table, a front delivery table inclinedrelatively thereto, and belts 4on both tables engaging` a sheet underneath, and suction means acting on the sheet at the belts, the belts overlapping to thereby act continuously on the sheet 4and variably longitudinally positionable relatively to the "16. A sheet deliver mechanism including ,in combination a delivery table, a plurality of suction means engaging a sheet underneath and progressing it along the table, said means being` located`along the table and with ltheir ends overlapping, and beingrelatively variably positionable longitudinally of the table. f.

17'. A sheet delivery'mechanism including in combination a delivery table; a plurality of 'belts engaging the underside of a sheet, and arranged longitudinally of the table and with their adjacent ends overlapping and suction" means acting on the sheet at the eis belts, thebelts being relatively variably positionable longitudinally of the table.

18. A sheet delivery mechanism including incombination a delivery table, a plurality of belts enga ing the underside of a sheet, and arrangeddongitudinally ofthe table and with their adjacent ends overlapping and suction means acting on the sheet at the belts,

the belts and suction means being relatively va'iably positionable longitudinally of the ta le.

19. A eet deliverymechanism including in com ation a delivery table, a plurality of perforate belts engaging the underside of a sheet, and arranged along the table with their ends overlapping, and an air chamber beneath Aeach belt; saidair chambers having l their end?J likewise overlapping, the belts and 12. Asheet delivery mechanism includingv air chamber being relatively variably positionahle longitudinally of the table.

20. A sheet deliveryl mechanism` including in combination a delivery table, .means foi-bendin the ,sheet transversely and upwardly an outwardly, and suction 4means positively progressing the sheet while so bent as it is delivered from the table.

219A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, means for bending the sheet transversely and upwardly and outwardly, and suction means on itsunder side positively progressing the sheet while so bent as it'is delivered from the table.

22. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, and means engaging4 only theI unprinted side of the sheet adapted to bend the sheet transversely as it is delivered from the table.

23. A sheet delivering and stacking'inech- :nism including in combination sheet stacking means, 'and suction means for delivering a sheet to the stack and devices for curving the sheet transversely upwardly; the suction means keeping control of the sheet until it is entirely delivered.

24. A sheet delivering and stacking mechanism including in, combination sheet stacking means, anddelivery means including lill the vsheet to bend transversely downwardly when deposited on the stack.

25. /A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a multi-part sheet delivery table, the forward tudinally reciproca ly movable relatively to the rear part thereof and meansfor progressing' a sheet along Athe table.

.26. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a multi-part sheet delivery part thereof being longitable, the forward part thereof'being longitudinally reciprocably movable relatively to the rear part thereof, and a forward portion ofthe table` being hinged, and means for' progressing a sheet along the table.

27. A s'heet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table; and a plurality of suction'` means adapted to ena sheet and arranged longitudinally ofthe table with their adjacent ends overlapping,

and suction means coacting with the belts to cause the sheets to move with the belts.

29. A sheet delivery mechanism including in Vcombination a main delivery table, a front :lelivery table inclined relatively thereto, and suction means on the front and rear tables adapted to engage a sheet and continuously progress it along and over both tables. l

30. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, means for moving the sheet over said table, and means engaging the underside of the sheet to'bend it transversely as it is projected from the fable. f

31. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, means for moving the sheet over said table, and means engaging the underside of the sheet for` bending it transversely upwardly and Aontwardly as it is projected from the table.

32. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, suction means for moving the sheet over the table` and means for bowing the central portion of the sheetupwardly as it is delivered from.

the table. y

33. A sheet delivering and' stacking mechanism comprising in combination Vsheet clnding suction devices for moving the sheet,v

and devices for bowing the sheet as it is delivered to the stack.

34. A sheet delivery mechanism includingr in combination a delivery table and a plurality of narrow suction means mounted on the table and adapted to successively engage the lower side of a sheet and move it along the table. i

35. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a plurality of narrow belts mounted on the table and adapted to successively engage the underside of a sheet, and suction means coacting with the belts to cause the sheet to adhere to the belts'and be moved thereby along the table.

'i 36. A sheet delivery mechanism including in combination a delivery table, a plurality of narrow belts on the table adapted to successively engage the underside of a slieet` and a suction chamber extending along and beneath the belts and coacting with the belts to causethe sheet to adhere to the belts and be moved thereby along the table. f

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ecication.

MI A. DROITCOUR. 

